Bruges

This trip is a little different than expected. We do not cycle each day. Today we walked 25 mins to the train and traveled to Bruges. For the last week Deborah and I have been in a small group going to relatively small towns. Bruge was a shock, wall to wall tourists, groups walking from site to site with guides broadcasting on their private audio channel. 

The Belfrie in Bruges

The waits were too long for a canal tour or to climb the 366 step Belfrie.Horse and carriage tours raced through the streets with speed and determination. We settled on touring a Dali exhibit, art I never really got but filled with his quotes. One being ,” I am so amazed that I can make $40,000. Before I have had breakfast.”

We also saw the Piacasso exhibit, very well done and some amazing examples of how prolific in multiple mediums he was.

I took this picture in a small museum, powerful in it’s simplicity, and for me an example of stark contrast. I wonder if the designers of this NY subway car did this on purpose?

NY Subway car

Lace the old fashioned way

This  city is a live museum with beautifully maintained churches, a market square, townhall, nunnery and multiple tempting chocolate shops. The prices reflected the clientele and we will shop more strategically.

This elderly lady was making lace by hand, non stop movement, truly remarakable

The heat was oppressive. We trained to Dendermonde, the last 20 minutes in an essentially unventilated car. The 25 minute walk to the boat ended with us remaining on deck, sipping cold beer as the temperature on the water had reached 30 degrees.

After dinner we went on a 7 mile warm-up, the bikes are not as sophisticated as last week, no shock absorbers and only 7 speed. We travel to Antwerp, about 50 K. Weather will still be hot , let’s hope for a cool breeze.